Driven by a sharp pullback in oil-directed activity, the combined U.S. rig count fell four units to 771 for the week ended Friday (Jan. 20), according to updated numbers from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Changes domestically included a 10-rig decline in oil-directed rigs, partially offset by an increase of six natural gas-directed units. Land drilling declined by one rig overall, while the Gulf of Mexico count fell three units to end at 16. Vertical rigs dropped four units week/week, while directional and horizontal rig totals were unchanged domestically.

The combined 771 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 604 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Canada’s rig count,...